Reducing test-leg.



' E. H. ERICKSON.

REDUGING TEST LEG. APPLICATION FILED MAB. 1. 1912.

1,071,149, v PatemeaAugalms.

PATENT OFFICE.

ERICK I-I. ERICKSON, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

REDUCING TEST-LEG.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 26,1913.

Application led March 1, 1912. Serial No. 680,889.

To all whom, t may concern.'

Be it known that I, Enron H. ERICKSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Min neapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reducing Test-Legs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a device for preparing the stump of an amputated leg for receiving an artificial limb, and comprises a leather reducing corset of the proper form to fit the peculiar stump involved in combin nation with a peg leg properly secured to the reducing corset. After amputation the wound at the end of the stump must not only be permitted to heal but a certain amount of time must be given for reducing and hardening the muscles and tissues surrounding the stump before being fitted for an artificial limb. This is absolutely essential, for if the limb is fitted too soon it may result in either re-opening the wound or causing serious and painful nervous troubles but also after subsequent shrinkage the artificial limb, properly fitted when placed on the stump, may become so large and fit so badly as to necessitate another limb. During the period in which the muscles and tissues of the stump are being reduced and hardened a leather reducing corset is generally employed. This comprises a corsetlike casing ofl leather shaped so as to conform to the outlines of the limb and overlapped at one side, the overlap being provided with the usual lacing for gradually drawing up the casing to compress the tissues within the same, thereby inducing the gradual reduction and hardening of said tissues. I have found that by applying to this corset a peg leg, the patient not only would be given an opportunity to use the stump at an earlier period than would otherwise be the case, without in any way jeopardizing or injuring the stump, but by this very use would materially increase the efiiciency of the reducing corset in accomplishing this purpose, so that before the artificial limb will need to be fitted the stump is reduced into its permanent working condition and at the same time the patient will have had extended practice in the `use of the stump under the most favorable possible conditions, so that when the artificial limb is fitted and applied the best possible results will be attained.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear in connection with the detailed description thereof and are particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, illustrating the applicL tion of my invention in one form,

Figure 1 is an elevation partly in perspective of a leather reducing corset for an amputation above the knee viewed from the front. Fig. 2 is a direct side elevation of the saine. of Fig. 2. Fig. 4- is a View of' my invention applied to a reducing corset for an amputation below the knee.

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3 the leather reducing corset 10 is provided with the usual opening 11 along the front thereof, flap 12 for covering said opening, eyelets 13 and lacing 14. Loops of 'leather 15 are riveted or otherwise secured to the sides of the corset through which eX- tend freely suspender bands 16 adapted to be connected by means of straps 17 with a supporting member extending over the shoulders of the wearer. The corset 18 shown in Fig. 4L has the same general characteristics as that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 except that the configuration will be that of a stump from an amputation below the knee, and suspender straps 19 are directly riveted to the upper portion ofi' the corset. Which ever form is employed, a series of rods 20, four in number as here shown, have their upper ends formed with eyes 21 through which, by means of rivets 22 or other equivalent fastenings, said rods are secured to the body of the corset 10 or 18 at points circumferentially disposed about the upper portion of said corset body. The rods are held properly spaced below the lower end of the corset by a ring 23 through which each of said rods passes, from which point the rods are drawn together into a union 2a from which ext-ends a peg leg 25 of the proper length terminating in the rubber tip 9.6. l

It will be seen that when the stump is used in connection with the leather reducing corset having the peg leg attached, as `herein shown, the weight of the patient will be Fig. 8 is a section on line 3 3 sustained by the muscles and tissues surrounding the stump for some distance above the scar, the actual point of support being well above the scar at the higher part of the reducing corset. As the stump is reduced t-he corset will be drawn together by means of the lacing 14, the rods 20 being suliiciently flexible in relation to the ring 23 to permit such reduction.

In the application of my invention to a leather reducing corset for an amputation above the knee, as shown in Figs. l and 2, I provide special straps 27 riveted to the side of the corset, through loops in the ends of which the upper portions of the rods 20 are extended, this arrangement acting to further steady the rods and unite the peg legs to the reducing corset. `Y One feature of advantage of my combination reducing corset and peg leg which I wish to emphasize, is that when the same is worn, by reason of the position of the rods extending about the corset and coming together beneath the stump it will be impossible for the wearer to fall or otherwise strike the stump against an obstruction, causing injury to the same before reduction and hardening and the fitting of an artificial limb. During the reducing period, under ordinary conditions, that is, where the reducing corset is worn in the usual way, the patient depends upon crutches for moving about, and sometimeswill forget to take his crutch and attempt to take a step or move about without the same, or the crutch may slip while in his hand, and he will subconsciously thrust out the stump to save himself from falling. As a result he will fall directly upon the stump, often causing serious injury thereto which may necessitate another amputation.- Then wearing my combination reducing corset and peg leg, whether or not the patient employs crutches, the stump will always be protected from receiving the shock of a fall or directly striking against an object.

I claim:

l. A reducing corset for an amputation stump in combination with a peg leg secured to said corset.

' 2. A reducing corset providing a leather casing open at one side, lacing means for drawing the casing together, and a peg leg secured to said reducing corset so as to permit such drawing together.

3. A reducing corset comprising a casing of leather or equivalent material, said casing being open at one side, and lacing means for drawing the same together in combination with a peg leg formed with a plurality of resilient rods each of said rods being independently secured at its upper end to the reducing corset.

t. A reducing corset comprising a casing of leather or equivalent material, said casing being open at one side, and lacing means for drawing the same together, in combination with a peg leg formed with a plurality of resilient rods each of said rods being independently secured at its upper end to the upper portion of the reducing corset and steadying straps secured to the lower portion of said corset and having loops embracing pairs of said rods.

5. A reducing corset comprising a casing of leather or equivalent material, said casing being open at one side, and lacing means for drawing the same together in combination with a peg leg formed with a plurality of resilient rods each of said rods being independently secured at its upper end to the upper portion of the reducing corset, and a ring holding said rods spaced adjacent the lower end of the reducing corset.

6. A reducing corset for an amputation stump, in combination with a peg leg secured to said corset, said peg leg comprising a plurality of resilient rods each independently secured at its upper end to the upper portion of the reducing corset, a ring holding said rod spaced adjacent the lower end of the reducing corset, and a central supporting peg to which each of said rods is obliquely extended from said ring, whereby the stump will be protected from striking any object.

7. A reducing corset comprising a casing of leather or equivalent material, said casing being open at one side and of an average diameter such that the edges thereof along said opening will be separated throughout their length when the casing is applied to an amputation stump, lacing means for drawing together the edges of the opening, and a peg leg formed with a plurality of resilient rods, each of said rods being secured at its upper end to the upper portion of the reducing corset at separated points about the same.

8. A reducing corset comprising a casing of leather or equivalent material, said casing being open at one side and of an average diameter such that the edges thereof along said opening will be separated throughout their length when the casing is applied to an amputation stump, lacing means for drawing together the edges of the opening, a peg leg formed with a plurality of resilient rods, each of said rods being secured at its upper end to the upper portion of the reducing corset, and flexible means secured to said rods and the lower portion of the reducing corset for steadying the same.

9. A reducing corset comprising a casing of leather or equivalent material, said casing being open at one side and of an average ydiameter such that the edges thereof along said opening will be separated throughout their length when the casing is applied to an amputation stump, lacing means for drawing together the edges of the opening, a peg` corset and said ring for steadying the lower 10 leg formed with a lurality of resilient rods, portion of the corset.

each of said rods eing secured at its upper In testimony whereof I affix my signature end to the upper portion of the reducing in presence of two witnesses.

corset, a ring secured to and holding said BRICK H ERICKSUN rods spaced adjacent the lower end of the reducing corset, and flexible means eXtenditnessesz ing from said corset and secured to the rods RAY TRAUTMAN,

between their points of attachment to the O. R. GRAPP.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for iive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

